Almost 18,000 residents have left the rebel-held parts of eastern Aleppo in the past 24 hours, the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria says.

The Syrian army slowed down military operations in Eastern Aleppo to evacuate civilians from the area.

“The Russian Center for Reconciliation of the warring parties continues to assist local people leaving the areas that remain under militant control in eastern part of Aleppo.

In the past 24 hours, some 17,971 residents, including 7,542 children, left the militant-controlled area with the assistance of the Russian Center for Reconciliation,” it said in a statement.

Syrian army forces are evacuating a large number of civilians from newly-liberated neighborhoods of Eastern Aleppo as pro-government troops continue to push terrorist groups back from remaining districts in the city, RT reports.